TrustedHousesitters is alpaca-approved: Christine’s story

What do you get when you have 23 alpacas, a Labradoodle, and a Tabby together on a ranch in Hawaii? A trusted housesitter, of course! 

Before she discovered TrustedHousesitters, pet parent Christine would pay friends and family to care for her menagerie of pets whenever she went away. But when she was introduced to TrustedHousesitters by some fellow alpaca parents, she realized she had found the perfect solution.

Even alpaca parents need a vacation

Christine’s Hawaiian ranch is home to a Labradoodle named Poppy, a tabby cat called Lester, and 23 Huacaya alpacas (we won’t name them all, but Buttercup and Merlin are among the stars of the show!).

“My alpacas are very curious and good-natured. They occasionally squabble between themselves, but they are very good with people. I have several that will let visitors pet them and sit down beside them,” she says.

Despite their gentle nature, finding reliable pet care for her foray of fluffy family members was a challenge. Boarding wouldn’t work, and it was often a struggle to find friends and family who were available. 

“I had a couple of difficult experiences before TrustedHousesitters, and when you’re far away, it can be really scary.”

After trying various pet care options, Christine needed someone she could really rely on to care for her fluffy favorites.

“TrustedHousesitters makes it so easy to plan a trip”

At first, Christine was a little uneasy about using TrustedHousesitters. Would sitters want to look after her alpacas? Would they even have the skills necessary to do so? By clarifying her expectations from the get-go, Christine always finds sitters who are ready for the job.

“I’m upfront in my descriptions that it’s hard work, and every pet sitter I’ve had has been happily up to the task. Our ranch in Hawaii is so peaceful and beautiful, and I love sharing it with people who are thrilled to be here.”

Three things stood out to Christine when using the platform: how easy it was to use, the ability to read reviews from other pet parents, and the simple application process.

“I would be overwhelmed if all the applications came in at once. The fact that I get five at a time allows me to sort through them, read the bios, and have a FaceTime interview without keeping many others waiting. I’ve never made it through more than five though. Everyone is qualified, and the hard part is choosing from all these great candidates.”

What about the best part?

“The ease of securing competent ranch sitters through TrustedHousesitters is the biggest bonus. I always have five applicants within the first half hour. Plus, not having to pay them is very helpful. My last TrustedHousesitters experience was for a month, so it would have been unaffordable otherwise.”

Some of the most memorable sitters

Some sitters have left a lasting impression on Christine, like Silvi and Lucas from Germany.

“They were so happy to be here, and I was so happy to have them. They were willing to come early so they could learn how to do everything. They sent updates and asked questions when needed, but handled the ranch, alpacas, and family pets with ease. When I returned they said they had enjoyed it so much, they wanted to get alpacas themselves. They did a fantastic job, and the house and ranch looked better than when I left.”

Another unforgettable family was Amy, Eddie, and Kaden, who went above and beyond to care for Christine’s sick dog while she was away.

“They worked so hard as our old dog, Daisy had health issues. They took her to the vet and even FaceTimed me while there. They carried her up and down the stairs and slept on the couch so they could help her at night. It was way beyond what they signed up for, but they never complained. They said they wanted to care for her the way they would have wanted their own dog cared for.”

Christine stays in touch with both sitters and hopes they’ll return for another ranch sit someday!

“If you’re considering a THS membership, do it! You won’t be disappointed”

TrustedHousesitters makes traveling a breeze for Christine, and she encourages all pet parents to give it a go. With a large family and multiple trips to the mainland US each year, having a reliable pet care option is essential.

“This spring I was able to travel to London to visit my daughter who was studying abroad. Next year, I will be going to my own graduation in CA and a daughter’s graduation in MA. I will also be visiting my grandson in TX and family in WA.”

Thanks to TrustedHousesitters, Christine can travel with peace of mind, knowing her fluffy family members are well taken care of. If you want to hear about another life-changing pet parent story, find out how TrustedHousesitters helped Sam & Olivia (and Tilly the pup) with a transformative life event.

Of course, it’s more than just cats and dogs we take care of – our sitters can handle anything from alpacas and other farm animals to rabbits and reptiles. We’ve got you covered!